“There’s no way I could have bought a house in Sydney. But here, I own a home. That means I’m investing in my future, and in this community.”
Klara knows what regional living feels like. Raised in Jindera, a small town near Albury Wodonga, she grew up with a strong sense of community, playing local netball, joining the football and netball clubs, and studying Occupational Therapy at Charles Sturt University while living at home.
But after five years working in mental health with the local health district in a role she loved due to its diversity, Klara started wondering: What else is out there?
In 2020, she moved to Sydney to take a Senior Occupational Therapy role at the Royal North Shore Hospital’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit – just as COVID-19 hit.
“I was surrounded by people, but I felt lonely. I missed that local connection – saying hello to people on the street. In Sydney, people just look at you when you say good morning.”
Working through the pandemic, Klara was on the frontline helping people cope with widespread uncertainty and mental health strain.
“I think everyone was in that state of change and fluctuation at the beginning of COVID and for that immediate time, I think people just did what they could to get through and they did quite well as a whole. I think it wasn’t until six months into it that we started seeing the impact on people’s mental health.”
Her skills and dedication led to a management role at Macquarie Hospital, overseeing a diverse multidisciplinary team of nurses, music therapist, art therapists, and fellow OTs.
“I managed Nurses, Music Therapists, Art Therapists and OTs as part of my team. Many of these team members weren’t used to having an allied health team member managing them, so that was quite a challenge at first. But it was really such a good experience. I learned a lot about myself and my leadership style and was offered a lot of training which was great.”
A return to community – a Career in the Shoalhaven
Often visiting friends on the NSW South Coast made Klara realise what was missing. “Each time I left the South Coast, I felt like I was leaving the life I actually wanted.”
When an opportunity with the local health district didn’t pan out, she expanded her search, and found South Coast Therapy and Support Group, a Shoalhaven-based practice known for innovation and a strong team culture.
“I met Claire and Nathan for coffee one weekend when I was down, and we talked about how my background in adult mental health, especially sensory modulation, and how that could transfer to working with children. They were open, forward-thinking, and passionate.”
Now, three months into her new role, Klara says the transition has been everything she hoped for, and more.
“I’ve been welcomed, supported, and given space to grow. It’s a workplace where everyone helps each other, and Claire and Nathan have been incredibly generous with resources and time to settle in.”
Klara’s role at South Coast Therapy and Support Group has given her the kind of OT career in the Shoalhaven that she didn’t think was possible outside a metro hospital system. Her decision to leave Sydney wasn’t just about work. It was about lifestyle, affordability, and community.
“There’s no way I could have bought a house in Sydney. But here, I own a home. That means I’m investing in my future, and in this community.”
She’s also joined a local church, connecting with her friends midweek easily after work, and found that social life is easier and more fulfilling in Shoalhaven.
“I’m more social now than I ever was in the city. My friends are minutes away, not across town. I’m part of something again.”
Thinking about a Career move to create the balance and opportunities you’re after?
Klara’s story isn’t just about leaving the city, it’s about finding more in a regional lifestyle. More connection. More affordability. More career growth.
